Friday, November 26, 2010

Sinn Féin Councillor Jonathan O'Brien has called on people to take to the streets of this Saturday to protest against the government's economic policies and the EU/IMF bailout.

Cllr O'Brien said:

"This government is pawning Ireland's sovereignty to the EU and IMF to bail out banks and bondholders, and has published a four-year plan of cutbacks that will deepen the recession and kill any prospect of growth."

"They must not be allowed to bring in their budget on 7th December or conclude a deal with the IMF that would mortgage our country's future for a generation. We need Fianna Fail out, and an immediate election."

"Many people will be travelling to Dublin on Saturday to support the ICTU protest, but for those who cannot, it is important that there is an opportunity for people in Cork to show their disgust and anger at the government. I would encourage people to meet outside Brown Thomas at 2pm on Saturday to tell Brian Cowen that "Ireland is Not For Sale"

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Several hundred people took part in a protest outside City Hall last night organised by Cork Sinn Féin. Starting at the National Monument, the protest proceeded along the South Mall to City Hall, where it was addressed by speakers who included Sinn Féin councillors Jonathan O'Brien and Chris O'Leary and economist Tom O'Connor. Protesters rejected the government's plans for an IMF bailout and called for an immediate general election.

Cllr Jonathan O'Brien said:

"Today the government unveiled the four year plan of cutbacks that has been dictated to them by their masters in Brussels and the IMF. Once more their target is the low-paid, the unemployed and those dependent on public services. The minimum wage is to be cut by €1, social welfare payments reduced, and low-paid workers brought into the tax net. All to bail out the banks and ensure the German and British bondholders who lent to them get their money back."

"The government wants to sell our sovereignty and mortgage our future to rescue the banks."

"Our message today is - Ireland is not for sale. The government has no authority to do this. Fianna Fail is a discredited party that has lost the confidence of its junior partners in government, the independents, and most importantly, the Irish people. It is deliberately delaying bye-elections in Waterford, Donegal North East and South Dublin in order to cling on to power. It has no mandate to negotiate with the IMF on our behalf or tie us into an economic straight-jacket for the next four years."

"We want the people to have a say. We want Fianna Fail out, and an election now."

Sinn Féin Councillor Chris O'Leary has said the government’s four year plan for the economy is an attempt to make the unemployed, the sick, the low paid and students pay for the sins of the wealthy, and will only deepen the recession.

Councillor O'Leary said:

“This plan lets the wealthy off the hook, while hitting low and middle income earners hardest once again. And for what? Every penny of every tax increase and every spending cut will go to paying off the debt incurred for bailing out the banks."

“Not only is this plan morally wrong, it is economic lunacy. Nearly €14.5 billion was taken out of the economy in the past two years and the result is the recession is worse. Now they want to take out another €15 billion."

“Increasing VAT will not grow the economy, it will see people flooding across the border to shop and kill business in this state."

“Reducing the minimum wage and social welfare will reduce disposable income and lead to decreased consumer confidence and further job losses. The Government should be concentrating on getting people into jobs in order to lessen the social welfare bill."

“Reducing the tax band to €15,000 will bring thousands of low earners into the tax net but they are not increasing the top tax rate or targeting high earners."

“Increasing student charges from €1,500 to €2,000 will exclude thousands of students from college – parents will be faced with choices of ‘do we pay our mortgage or do we send our children to college?"

“There are alternatives. A 1% wealth tax on the assets of Ireland's 33,000 millionaires, for example, would bring in €5 billion over the next four years. However the government have chosen not to follow them."

"This is not a plan for recovery - it is an attack on the poor, the sick, the low paid and the young which will only prolong the recession and delay recovery."

For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O'Leary 087-2794307.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

A meeting will take place next Thursday in Knocknaheeney to highlight the growing housing crisis in the city and to update local residents on the Knocknaheeney Regeneration Plan. The meeting is hosted by local councillor Jonathan O'Brien and will take place on 2nd December at 7.30 in Terence MacSwiney School.

Encouraging people to attend the meeting, Councillor O'Brien said:

"This is the fourth meeting Sinn Féin has organised as part of our city-wide housing campaign, "Lets End the Wait". With over 8,000 people on the waiting list for housing, and the prospect of savage cuts in the housing budget in this year's estimates, it has never been more important that people come together to demand decent housing for all."

"Cork Sinn Féin has published a detailed set of policy proposals on how to end the housing crisis in our city, and we will continue to campaign until they are implemented by the council."

"I will also be taking the opportunity of this meeting to update local residents on the council's proposals for the Knocknaheeney Regeneration Plan. This project is critical for the future of the area and will have an impact on everyone who lives here. I think it is important that residents are consulted on the plan and given as much information as possible. Next Thursday night I will lay out what the council is currently proposing and listen carefully to the comments and feedback of local people."

"I would encourage anybody living in Knocknaheeney to come to the meeting and have their say on the future of their area."

Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O'Brien has invited people to support the protest the party is organising this evening against the EU/IMF bailout for the banks and the proposed budget cuts. The protest will begin at 5.30 at the National Monument and will proceed to City Hall where councillors will be leaving a budget meeting at 6pm.

Cllr O'Brien said:

"The Fianna Fáil government are clinging to power despite having lost the confidence of their coalition partners and the people. They are determined to conclude a deal with the IMF to bail out the banks and to pass a hairshirt budget before they leave office. If they succeed, the consequence will be to load the Irish people with billions more in debt for the benefit of international bondholders, and to kill any prospects of growth in the economy."

"It is time to take a stand and to demand that Fianna Fáil go. We need an election now with the people given the opportunity to have a meaningful say in the future direction of this country. We are asking people to turn out tonight to send Brian Cowen and his ministers a message that is loud and clear; your time is up, you have no mandate to sell out this country to the IMF, it is time to go."

For further information or comment contact Jonathan O'Brien @ 085-2133907

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Hundreds Attend Protest Rally in Cork Around 200 people attended a rally last night to protest against the government's economic policies and the IMF/ECB intervention in our affairs.

Sinn Féin had originally invited people to attend a protest vigil at the National Monument at 6pm. However when large numbers turned up it was decided to march through the Grand Parade and Patrick Street, in the course of which many more members of the public joined in. The rally was addressed by Sinn Féin Cllrs Jonathan O'Brien and Chris O'Leary, as well as economist Tom O'Connor. Speaking afterwards, Cllr O'Leary said: "The turnout for last night's protest, which was organised at less than a day's notice, demonstrates the anger that is out there at the way the government, having brought the country to its knees, has now sold our sovereignty to the EU and IMF to rescue the banks."

"The location of the vigil - at the National Monument, inscribed with the names of those who led the struggle for Irish freedom from 1798 onwards - was particularly symbolic." "People do not want Brian Cowen clinging to power until some time in January, so that he can wreak even more devastation on the country with a slash-and-burn budget. They want Fianna Fail out and an election now." "People deserve the chance to choose alternative policies that will stimulate the economy and provide jobs, not more of the same failed policies of the last two years."

"We will be protesting again outside City Hall Wednesday night, where councillors will be considering a budget that looks set to impose savage cutbacks in local services. Once again we invite the people of Cork to join us. It is time to stand up. We cannot sit on our hands and watch as our sovereignty is pawned in the interests of foreign bondholders and the economic prospects of our children are destroyed." For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O'Leary 087/2794307

Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O'Brien has said the government has no authority to pass a budget on 7th December and should resign and call a general election. To take such fundamental decisions on the economy now without consulting the people would be tantamount to treason.

Cllr O'Brien said: "Brian Cowen's statement yesterday evening beggars belief." "This man his lost the confidence of his coalition partners, his own backbenchers and the independents who had been supporting his government. Due to his monumental mismanagement of the economy, the IMF are sitting in the Department of Finance, dictating the terms of our next four budgets. Yet he is determined to cling on to power until he has completed the job of wrecking our economy by intorducing a deflationary budget and tying us into a deal with the EU and IMF." "Brian Cowen and Fianna Fáil no longer have the authority to do this. Their mandate has run out.

They are a shadow government which has lost any shred of respect or trust from the people." "To pass a budget now without an election first would be an act of treason." "The people must be given an oportunity to make themselves heard. There needs to be a general election where voters are offered a real choice - between the failed policies of austerity and a strategy of stimulating job creation and gowth." "There is still time to choose a better way.

The IMF are coming in to bail out the banks and their bondholders, not the state. We can force the bondholders to take their losses and maintain our economic sovereignty. We need an election now before Brian Cowen forces us into an economic straightjacket for the next four years." For further information or comment contact Cllr Jonathan O'Brien @ 085-2133907

Monday, November 22, 2010

Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O’Brien has strongly criticised government plans to reduce the minimum wage by up to 13% as part it four-year economic strategy.

Cllr O’Brien said:

“In the same breath as he announced that the government is requesting an IMF and EU bailout so they can channel further billions into the country’s banks, Brian Lenihan flagged up his intention to attack the lowest paid Irish workers by reducing the minimum wage.”

“It appears that while the bankers who caused this crisis are protected even at the cost of putting the country’s sovereignty in pawn to the IMF, low paid workers are to take the hit on their behalf. We can afford to pay the bondholders at Ango-Irish every cent they gambled on the Irish property bubble, but €8.65 an hour is too much to pay the workers who actually produce the country’s wealth. When this is the kind of Alice-in-wonderland thinking that passes for economic policy with the government, is it any wonder the country is in crisis?”

“Cutting the minimum wage is not only unjust – it does not make economic sense. Less money in the pockets of low paid workers means less money to spend in local shops and on local services. It will result in fewer jobs and lower growth,”

“The government argues that our minimum wage is the second-highest in Europe, but conveniently ignores the reality that we have one of the highest costs of living in the EU – largely due to their failure to take on cosy cartels of retailers and service-providers during the Celtic Tiger. In the past year prices of many basic necessities have gone up, not down.”

“The government’s whole strategy for the past two years has been to force workers and the most vulnerable in society to bear the burden while doing everything possible to protect the banks. This approach has failed and will fail again. The minimum wage must be protected. This government must go. We cannot continue to pay the price for their vandalism of the economy.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Chris O’Leary has announced details of a vigil to be held at 6pm this evening at the National Monument on the Grand Parade to protest against the IMF/ECB bailout.

Councillor O’Leary said his party is mobilising today in protest in towns and villages across Ireland in opposition to a bailout that will further indebt the Irish people. He described yesterday as a dark today for Ireland, when the country’s sovereignty was put in pawn to bail out the banks and international bondholders. Describing last night’s hastily arranged press conference by Brian Cowen and Brian Lenihan as a farce that was without figures, without facts, without resignations and without shame, he called on the Taoiseach to do the decent thing and resign.

Cllr O’Leary concluded by encouraging as many people as possible to join a series of events which Sinn Féin is organising to protest against the bailout. As well as a candlelight vigil at the National Monument at 6pm, the party is to protest outside the GPO at 1pm today. For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087/2794307

In a joint statement, Sinn Féin’s five members of Cork City Council, Cllr Jonathan O’Brien, Cllr Chris O’Leary, Cllr Fiona Kerins, Cllr Henry Cremin and Cllr Thomas Gould, have slammed yesterday’s acceptance of an IMF/EU bailout as placing Irish sovereignty in pawn to rescue the banks and international bondholders.

They said:

“This is not a bailout for the Irish people or the Irish state. It is a rescue package for the banks and the international bondholders who lent to them, with the Irish taxpayer footing the bill.”

“The Fianna Fail/Green Government has no political authority and no democratic mandate to agree this deal in the name of the Irish people and to impose further massive debt on this and future generations.”

“The cost of this so-called “bailout” will be savage cutbacks that will plunge large sections of the Irish people into poverty. Already there are suggestions the minimum wage will be cut by 13%, social welfare payments will be slashed further, low-paid workers will be drawn into the tax net, and health and education spending will be cut to the bone.”

“Even these proposed cutbacks may not be savage enough for the IMF and the EU and if so, they will be deepened further.”

“Irish sovereignty, which was purchased with generations of sacrifice and by the lives of our patriot men and women, has now been put into pawn to bail out bankers and international bondholders.”

“Even at this late stage, there is an alternative. The Cabinet should resign and there should be a general election. A new government could burn the bondholders and introduce a budget that would stimulate the economy and focus on job creation and growth."

Friday, November 19, 2010

Sinn Féin’s councillor Jonathan O’Brien has said the government has lost all authority and should call a general election rather than tying the country into an agreement with the IMF and the EU bailout fund which would further damage the economy.

He was speaking in advance of the party’s day of action tomorrow, which will see Sinn Féin activists across the state taking to the streets to protest against the government’s disastrous economic policies and to highlight the party’s march on Leinster House on 4th December. Sinn Féin in Cork will hold a protest at Daunt Square at 1pm.

Cllr O’Brien said:

“Today is a black day in the history of our country. This government has brought down on the heads of the Irish people an economic disaster of unprecedented proportions. Their mismanagement has turned one of the most successful economies in the world into a ward of the IMF and seriously compromised the independence we fought so hard to achieve. They cannot now be trusted to do a deal with the IMF on our behalf. The government has lost all authority and should resign immediately.”

“The intervention of the IMF means a serious loss of control over our economy. Not only does it pose a threat to our 12.5% corporation tax rate, a bailout will mean even more savage cuts to health, education, public service jobs and social welfare as well as tax increases for the lower paid and the fire sale of state assets. All this to bail out the banks with further billions, for which the Irish people will have to pay the price.”

“The tragedy is that this need not have happened. If the Government had burned the bondholders, set up a state bank and pursued a real plan for economic recovery there would be no call for any such bailout. It can still be avoided.

“This government does not have the authority to negotiate a bailout package with the EU and IMF on our behalf. We need an immediate General Election before Fianna Fail and the Greens condemn Ireland to another decade of economic stagnation.”

“Sinn Féin is holding a day of action across the country tomorrow to protest against the government’s destruction of the Irish economy and highlight the reality that there is a better way. In Cork we will be gathering at Daunt Square at 1pm and we invite members of the public to join us.”

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

A lecture detailing the story of the 1980 Hungerstrike will take place at Gurranabraher Community Centre (The Hut) on Friday 19th November at 7.30pm, organised by the Phoenix Historical Society, hosting the event is local Cllr Thomas Gould who said:

" This lecture gives people interested in that period of our history a unique opportunity to hear the story of the 1980 Hungerstrike in the H-Blocks and Armagh Women's Prison by the people that were there, we are delighted to have Síle Darragh, Seanna Breathnach & Leo Green as our speakers,all who were on the blanket protest in that period, indeed Leo was on Hungerstrike for 53 days before the protest was ended, recently events were held In Cork to mark the 90th aniversary of the deaths on Hungerstrike of Terence MacSwiney & Joe Murphy I would invite the public to come along and hear the stories of a later generation of political prisoners who felt compelled to follow their example'.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

A commemoration marking the 90th anniversary of the killing of Vol Eugene O'Connell by British Armed Forces will take place on Sunday 14th November 1.15pm assemble at St.Joseph's cemetery Ballyphehane Cork, speaker Cllr Fiona Kerins, organised by the Phoenix Historical Society.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Sinn Féin Councillor Chris O’Leary has called for the local authority to be given stronger powers to tackle anti-social tenants.

Reacting to the publication of the council’s new strategy for dealing with anti-social behaviour last night, Cllr O’Leary stated:

“This is a positive document with a lot of good ideas. It lays out clearly how the council plans to deal with complaints of anti-social behaviour, including against council tenants. The kind of clear and transparent procedure laid out in this document is badly needed.”

“My concern is that national legislation in this area has yet to catch up with the council’s thinking. The fact is the Housing Act is not designed to make it easy for local authorities to evict anti-social tenants. On the contrary, we are all well aware of cases that have dragged through the courts for months without reaching a successful resolution.”

“As we speak, law-abiding citizens in certain estates in this city are being terrorised by a small minority of anti-social thugs who make the lives of their neighbours a misery. It is simply not acceptable that decent families should be unable to occupy their homes in peace because the council does not have the powers to deal effectively with anti-social elements. While I welcome today’s proposals I also believe we need a change in national legislation to make it easier for councils to evict problem tenants from their properties.”

Sinn Féin councillor Thomas Gould has congratulated council officials and staff on the programme of events put together to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the deaths of Lord Mayors Terence MacSwiney and Tomás MacCurtain.

Cllr Gould said:

“Some months ago the council agreed, on foot of a motion from myself, that it should put together a programme of events to mark the 90th anniversary of the deaths of Terence MacSwiney and Tomás MacCurtain – two of the greatest names in Ireland’s struggle for freedom, who were natives of our city and who held its highest office.”

“Last night the council heard excerpts from the minutes of council meetings in 1920, and today there is an exhibition in City Hall commemorating the life and times of MacSwiney and MacCurtain. A commemorative mass will take place in the North Cathedral on Sunday.”

”I would like to thank all involved in organising these events and making them a fitting commemoration of two great Irishmen.”

Sinn Féin councillor Thomas Gould has condemned the closure of the local housing office in The Glen, which was only revealed to councillors last night.

“This decision is bad for the community and will seriously inconvenience many Glen Residents” stated Cllr Gould.

“Instead of being able to talk to a local housing officer who is familiar with their community they will be forced to journey into the city or ring City Hall. There they will have to face the red tape and delay that seems to be the trademark of the council’s housing department.”

“It is also alarming that local councillors were not consulted or informed about this decision until last night.”

“This is just one more example of cutbacks that are hurting ordinary people at a time when the government has funnelled €50 billion into the country’s banks.”

Sinn Féin councillor Henry Cremin has welcomed a report from the City Manager on preparations for severe winter conditions like those experienced last year, but said the council’s emergency number should be publicly advertised.

In response to a question from Cllr Cremin, the council stated it currently has 130 tonnes of salt in stock and this will be supplemented in coming weeks. Two new salt spreaders are due for delivery in the next few weeks, and a salting route has been laid out which prioritises main traffic routes, bus routes and areas adjacent to hospitals and schools. The council has a 24-hour emergency number in place for members of the public concerned over icy roads or paths, burst pipes, or other problems. There is also a freefone number held in reserve for activation during any major emergency.

While welcoming the measures taken by the council to deal with a repeat of the adverse weather conditions of last year, Cllr Cremin said “The council should publicise the existing 24-hour emergency number more widely rather than simply publishing it on its website, where most of the population of the city have no idea of its existence. An advertising campaign in the local newspapers and on local radio would alert people, particularly the elderly, to the fact there is an emergency service from the council if they need it over the coming winter.”

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Sinn Féin Cllr Jonathan O’Brien has welcomed the analysis of the party’s budget proposals by economist Michael Taft of TASC, and said they indicate once again the possibility of creating a progressive alliance as an alternative to the consensus for cuts.

Writing on the Progressive Economy blog, Michael Taft wrote: “With the political consensus obsessed with a €15 billion deflationary juggernaut, it’s a relief that one party gets it. Sinn Fein’s pre-budget submission argues for a major stimulus programme combined with a growth-friendly consolidation package that, taken together, would increase growth and job creation. This would put deficit-reduction on a sustainable path, unlike the calls for contraction which could land the economy in what the ESRI calls a ‘deflationary cycle’. (http://www.progressive-economy.ie/2010/11/at-least-one-party-gets-it.html)

Cllr O’Brien said:

“Michael Taft’s comments reflect the views of a growing number of independent economists, as well as those in the trade union movement and the community and voluntary sector that the strategy of cuts has failed. The government has already imposed three hairshirt budgets and the only result has been to shrink the economy further.”

“There is an alternative – an economic strategy focused on job creation, an economic stimulus, and an end to NAMA and the bank bailout.”

“Instead of cutting social welfare payments, taxing low paid workers and decimating services, Sinn Féin would reduce the deficit by taxing some of the huge amount of wealth that remains in the country. Instead of further deflating the economy we are proposing a €7 billion stimulus package.”

“Instead of pouring more money into zombie banks we want to invest in the country’s infrastructure and create jobs”

“We reject the entirely artificial 2014 deadline for reducing the budget deficit to 3% and want the timescale for the correction extended to 2016.”

“Full details of our pre-budget submission can be read at http://www.sinnfein.ie/files/Pre-Budget2010_web.pdf”

Speaking after yesterday’s release of the Live Register figures for October, Sinn Féin Councillor and Cork South Central general election candidate Chris O’Leary accused the government of relying on emigration to mask unemployment figures in the absence of a proper job creation strategy.

Cllr O’Leary stated:

“Yesterday the government were congratulating themselves for a significant reduction in the live register. Yet the figures show quite clearly that this reduction is due to emigration, not an increase in employment.”

“5,741 young people under 25 have left the live register within the last month. Does anyone really believe they are flowing into jobs? The savage cuts to young people’s unemployment benefit at the last budget provided a further incentive for them to leave the country. Sadly, encouraging emigration appears to be the best strategy the government can come up with for reducing the live register.”

“Emigration is a blight on our country. Ireland cannot afford the loss of these highly skilled young people from our shores. Rather than further decimating the economy, the government should use next month’s budget to create jobs, stimulate the economy, and retain our young people”

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Sinn Féin General Election Candidates Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North-Central) & Chris O'Leary (Cork South-Central) have welcomed today's High Court Judgement and have added their calls for a General Election:

O'Brien & O'Leary said: "Is well past time now the Government called a General Election and let the people have their say, its our view a clear radical alternative is needed to the consenus of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael & Labour on the economy, its Sinn Féin's intention to offer that alternative in the upcoming election".

Earlier today the High Court ruled in favour of Pearse Doherty's challenge against the Government’s delay in holding the Donegal South West by-election, Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty said the game is now up for the Government and that the Taoiseach should call a General Election.Senator Doherty said today’s judgement is a victory for the people of Donegal South West who have been politically underrepresented for the past year-and-a-half.

Pearse Doherty said:“I was forced to bring the Government kicking and screaming before the courts over its denial of democracy.“Today’s decision is a great victory for the people of Donegal South West who have been politically underrepresented for the past year-and-a-half.“It is a victory for democracy itself.“That the Government chose to waste taxpayers’ money fighting this case is a disgrace.“Today’s court decision has struck a fatal blow to the life of this Government.“With three other by-elections now due, the Government has little if any prospect of survival. The game is now up.“The Taoiseach should now do the right thing and call a General Election.“I want to thank my legal team and everyone who sent messages of support particularly those from my own constituency who have been suffering from the dreadful policies of this Government.” ENDS

Speaking today after the High Court ruled in favour of his challenge against the Government’s delay in holding the Donegal South West by-election, Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty said the game is now up for the Government and that the Taoiseach should call a General Election.

Senator Doherty said today’s judgement is a victory for the people of Donegal South West who have been politically underrepresented for the past year-and-a-half.

Pearse Doherty said:

“I was forced to bring the Government kicking and screaming before the courts over its denial of democracy.

“Today’s decision is a great victory for the people of Donegal South West who have been politically underrepresented for the past year-and-a-half.

“It is a victory for democracy itself.

“That the Government chose to waste taxpayers’ money fighting this case is a disgrace.

“Today’s court decision has struck a fatal blow to the life of this Government.

“With three other by-elections now due, the Government has little if any prospect of survival. The game is now up.

“The Taoiseach should now do the right thing and call a General Election.

“I want to thank my legal team and everyone who sent messages of support particularly those from my own constituency who have been suffering from the dreadful policies of this Government.” ENDS

Monday, November 1, 2010

Cork Sinn Féin general election candidates Jonathan O’Brien and Chris O’Leary have claimed there is an alternative to the strategy of budget cutbacks and that the government’s policies will cost jobs and drive the economy further into recession. They were speaking as the party launches its pre-budget submission this morning.

In a joint statement, they said:

“Sinn Féin this morning becomes the first party to set out its detailed pre-budget proposals. All our ideas have been costed by the Department of Finance and independent economists.”

“The government has already imposed three hairshirt budgets and the only result has been to shrink the economy further. There is a better way, and it is laid out in our proposals.”

“Instead of cutting social welfare payments, taxing low paid workers and decimating services, we propose to reduce the deficit by taxing some of the huge amount of wealth that remains in the country. Instead of further deflating the economy we are proposing a €7 billion stimulus package.”

“Instead of pouring more money into zombie banks we want to invest in the country’s infrastructure and create jobs”

“We reject the entirely artificial 2014 deadline for reducing the budget deficit to 3% and want the timescale for the correction extended to 2016.”

“The government, Fine Gael, and the Labour Party are united in a consensus for cuts. They disagree only over the details. Sinn Féin rejects that consensus – nor are we alone. Significant elements of the trade union movement, the community and voluntary sector, and independent economists share our analysis. The challenge now is to create an alternative consensus, one that will prioritise job creation, stimulating the economy and fairness rather than the failed policies of the past two years.”